Durham Birding (6 Viewers)

[craigthirlwell]

Rainton Med

At least 5 seo's today. Only one roosting to the east of the railway line. The others were to the west of the line. Not much in the way of hunting activity, they were just sitting in the hawthorn.

The greatest entertainment was had watching 2 weasels fighting with each other about 15 feet away. No photos, sorry, blame JBee!!

 

[JBee]

No photos, sorry, blame JBee!!

The stoat shots I took before you arrived went straight in the bin - I'm thinking of buying a night vision lens as most photography this year has been in the dark - even in the middle of the day ||

 

[JBee]

Not much in the way of hunting activity, they were just sitting in the hawthorn.

The voles in the field today were a little bit too big for them to carry off

 

[craigthirlwell]

The stoat shots I took before you arrived went straight in the bin - I'm thinking of buying a night vision lens as most photography this year has been in the dark - even in the middle of the day ||

It's about time flood lighting nature reseverses was considerd.
John, regarding your bat that was flying about during the day, this little fella was doing the same thing.

 

[ColinSev]

Most photographed owls in county?

At Rainton Meadows - 3rd attempt to contact with SEO`s and finally I did, very impressive.
Nice to meet Craig and JBee too.
The shot I got is the same owl that Craig got on the post, only digiscoped - was sat on East of the line.
Loads of redwings about today too.
Maybe most photographed owls - but then thinking about it - that honour belongs to Trow quarry Little Owl

 

[Cyclops]

Any chance of me seeing a SEO in my locale(Darlington),i don't think I've seen one yet,that or LEO can't remember. However when I take the dogs over the field at night I often hear a Tawny calling, keevit keevit(male or female?)

 

[craigthirlwell]

Any chance of me seeing a SEO in my locale(Darlington),i don't think I've seen one yet,that or LEO can't remember. However when I take the dogs over the field at night I often hear a Tawny calling, keevit keevit(male or female?)

Can't help you with the seo around darlo, but the Tawny is a female. The ‘hoot’ is made by the male bird. They are usually heard together as Tawnys are territorial throughout the year. If the bird is on its own then it may well be one of this year’s offspring.

 

[IanF]

Any chance of me seeing a SEO in my locale(Darlington),i don't think I've seen one yet,that or LEO can't remember. However when I take the dogs over the field at night I often hear a Tawny calling, keevit keevit(male or female?)

I think the 'kee-wick' is actually a contact call made by both sexes. Maybe territorial or maybe because it's spotted you as well

I think the 'too-wit' call is made by the female and the 'woo' by the male. Though it seems this can be a contact call as well between two males.

SEO's usually head to lowland areas of rough grassland in winter. I'd have thought there would be plenty of suitable habitat around Whessoe Road area. A couple of years back they were regulars in the Drinkwater Park reserve but the trees may be a bit high now. Coatham Stob reserve is another location they're at most winters as is the newly forested areas at Hurworth Burn. Usually a good number turn up on the North Tees Marshes each winter especially around Holme Fleet, Greenabella Marsh, Saltholme Ponds and Dormans Pool - though I've not seen any yet this winter.

Rainton Meadows seems to be the only reliable place at present but there's a good chance they may spread out or others arrive yet.

It does seem that each winter they congregate in high numbers in different areas, but thre's always a good spread around the lowland areas of the county.

 

[DEREK.C.]

Can't help you with the seo around darlo, but the Tawny is a female. The ‘hoot’ is made by the male bird. They are usually heard together as Tawnys are territorial throughout the year. If the bird is on its own then it may well be one of this year’s offspring.

In my opinion both male and female often use the kewick` call , while both sexes also hoot . But the females hoot is more hoarse and croaky than the males and sometimes ends half way through,while i think i`ve only ever heard the female hoot during the breeding season.
I also wouldnt recommend anybody to try and copy the hoot while in woodland at night , as you usually end up under attack :eek!:

 

[craigthirlwell]

'kee-wick' 'kewick`'keevit'!
I know for sure that kermit is a frog....(i think).

What's green and smells of pork?

 

[rokermartin]

Crimdon Dene this pm 2 Snow Bunting on waste ground, 2 Little Auk and 1 Pom Skua chasing gulls,25 RB Merganser,13 Goldeneye.Blackhall Rocks 1 GN Diver, 250+Eider ,small number of Common Scoter and 2 Bewick's Swan

 

[Cyclops]

Thanks for the info guys. Isn't SEO a diurnal owl,like little owl? I downloaded the calls to my phone so if I hear it I should recognise it.

 

[thembwoman]

Hello there everyone

I've been a very rare poster on here, mainly because I can't get out to see much so don't have anything to contribute. But I get daily updates of this thread as I'm very interested in the birds in my local area, and I like to be nosey and see what everyone else is seeing ||

I would like to tell you what I did see today though. I went to Seal Sands and saw a Little Egret! I was quite amazed as I've never seen one in the uk before, although I know that they are down south. Are they a common sight up here then?

Also, has anyone seen any Waxwings? That's a bird I'd really love to see.

I also go and watch the red kites at Rowlands Gill whenever I'm able. Now there's a stunning bird.

Hope I'm not hijacking your thread |:$|, take care all.
x

 

[IanF]

Hello there everyone

I've been a very rare poster on here, mainly because I can't get out to see much so don't have anything to contribute. But I get daily updates of this thread as I'm very interested in the birds in my local area, and I like to be nosey and see what everyone else is seeing ||

I would like to tell you what I did see today though. I went to Seal Sands and saw a Little Egret! I was quite amazed as I've never seen one in the uk before, although I know that they are down south. Are they a common sight up here then?

Also, has anyone seen any Waxwings? That's a bird I'd really love to see.

I also go and watch the red kites at Rowlands Gill whenever I'm able. Now there's a stunning bird.

Hope I'm not hijacking your thread |:$|, take care all.
x

Little Egret are indeed a regular species in the North Tees area. The last few years they've over-wintered here as well. Late summer a young juvenile was reported as well but breeding hasn't been confirmed, though I'm sure it's only a matter of time. There are at least 7-8 of them around all year though numbers usually increase in summer. Greatham Creek roadside pools are probably the most reliable place to see them, though some are often on Holme Fleet, Greenabella Marsh, Saltholme Pond east, Back Saltholme and Dormans Pool as well. There are so many ditches and shallow pools in the area that they can be hard to locate sometimes.

Most of the year they roost together overnight in a hedge about 1/2 mile upstream from Greatham Creek road bridge. c.30 mins before dusk they can be seen flying into the hedge. Occasionally a few roost at Wynyard Park and Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park as well. In winter they roost at Greatham Creek and 2-3 in a weeping willow tree on the island in Rossmere Park, Hartlepool as well.

 

[StevieEvans]

garden tick

'kee-wick' 'kewick`'keevit'!
I know for sure that kermit is a frog....(i think).

D'ya not think there are already enough muppets on here.......? :cat:

Any chance of me seeing a SEO in my locale(Darlington),i don't think I've seen one yet......

I think a lot of people forget that SEO is the scarcest breeding owl in Durham (& England for that matter)


Garden Tick
Was just 5 mins away from setting off for Castle Lake this morning....
then the little 'un decieded to fall down the full length of the stairs... the resulting poorly foot saw us indoors the whole day :eek!:

Not being one to miss an oppurtunity we set the scope up this afternoon & picked up one of the SEOs from the attic window (approx 1,700 metres away mind !) while Jack was happy with scope views of the horses on the hill !

Been thinking about trying that for a while now, glad i did.
Thats 4 owls on the garden list in 5 year (Barn, Little & Tawny were a bit closer, all "in" or "over") only Long-eared to go now.

Cant think of much to add to Dereks Tawny info as he hears them pretty much every day, but ive had male Tawnies call in flight several times.
Cheers
SE

 

[JBee]

Garden Tick
Not being one to miss an oppurtunity we set the scope up this afternoon & picked up one of the SEOs from the attic window (approx 1,700 metres away mind !) .......
Thats 4 owls on the garden list in 5 year (Barn, Little & Tawny were a bit closer, all "in" or "over") only Long-eared to go now.
Cheers
SE

Must take you a full day to dig up a row of potatoes 3

 

[thembwoman]

Little Egret are indeed a regular species in the North Tees area. The last few years they've over-wintered here as well. Late summer a young juvenile was reported as well but breeding hasn't been confirmed, though I'm sure it's only a matter of time. There are at least 7-8 of them around all year though numbers usually increase in summer. Greatham Creek roadside pools are probably the most reliable place to see them, though some are often on Holme Fleet, Greenabella Marsh, Saltholme Pond east, Back Saltholme and Dormans Pool as well. There are so many ditches and shallow pools in the area that they can be hard to locate sometimes.

Most of the year they roost together overnight in a hedge about 1/2 mile upstream from Greatham Creek road bridge. c.30 mins before dusk they can be seen flying into the hedge. Occasionally a few roost at Wynyard Park and Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park as well. In winter they roost at Greatham Creek and 2-3 in a weeping willow tree on the island in Rossmere Park, Hartlepool as well.

Thank you for that, I'll definatly go back and have another look.
x

 

[IanF]

Seaton Snook 9:00-10:00am - pretty quiet. I think there were more bird watchers than there were birds!

North Gare access road held quite a few Wigeon, Teal and Mallard. Also Shoveler x3, Little Egret x1 and Kestrel.

Quite a few Curlew on Seaton Common along Zinc Works Road and Stonechat x3 and Robin x1.

Seaton Channel - Shag x1, Cormorant 3+, RB Merganser 12+ and Great Crested Grebe x1 on the water and on the muddy margins Curlew x8, Oystercatcher x7, Bar-tailed Godwit x4, Grey Plover x1, Redshank 12+.

Seal Sands well up the inlet quite a few RB Merganser, Great Crested Grebe x4, RT Diver x2. Overflights of Curlew and Shelduck x1.

Just Twite x7 seen today, very flighty moving between the sea grass, the fence and the field.

No sign of the Merlin whilst I was there but chatting with the power station police they'd seen one earlier on the pylons by Seaton Channel. Still worth while carrying some ID if you're visiting this area.

 

[rokermartin]

Sunderland Harbour this pm 1stw Glaucous Gull and 2 Snow Bunting briefly before flying north.

 

[Mark Lewis]

I'm an ex Durham boy, exiled up to Aberdeen. Does anyone work brasside pond these days? I always go and have a look there when I'm back in town, but I don't think I've ever seen another birder there!

Mark